....####..                                          #.##..#...
...#...#..                                          ##.#.##...
..##..##..                                          .####.#...
.#.#.#.#..                                          #...###...
########.#                                          #..#..#...
.......###             ................             #.##.##..#
......#...             THE ALVAR FIELDS             ##.##.#.##
.....##..#             &&&##########&&&             .##.####.#
....#.#.#.                                          #.##...###
...######. FROM   NORTH  TO   SOUTH,   THIRTY   ODD ##.#..#..#
..#.....#. KILOMETERS.  FROM  WEST  TO  EAST,  FOUR .###.##.##
.##....##. THOUSAND METERS. FROM TOPSOIL  TO STONE, #..##.##.#
#.#...#.## A  FOOT OR TWO. NO ROOTS CAN FESTER,  NO #.#.##.###
###..###.#             DUST CAN LINGER.             ####.##...
..#.#..##.                                          ...##.#..#
.####.#.## HERE IS  EARTH,  CLAY,  AND  STURDY  LOW ..#.###.##
#...####.. PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE .###..##.#
#..#...#.. EARTH  IS BARE IN  PATCHES  AS LARGE  AS #..#.#.##.
#.##..##.#               YOU AND ME.                #.#####.##
##.#.#.###                                          ##....##..
.######..# CROSS IT TO  GET TO  THE OCEAN, OR DON'T .#...#.#.#
#.....#.#.          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.          ##..######
#....#####                                          .#.#......
#...#.....                                          ####.....#
#..##.....                                          ...#....#.
#.#.#.....                                          ..##...###
#####.....                                          .#.#..#...
....#.....                                          ####.##..#